Sites in Motion: Highlights from Our Members
Check out these updates from Hong Kong Action Archives (Taiwan) debut exhibition in London, Manchester Museum (UK) being named European Museum of the year, Hrant Dink Foundation (Turkey) hosting a conversation series on ancestral journeys and the exploration of Armenian identity, the opening of Fenix Museum of Migration (Netherlands) and Pasaje Begoña (Spain) receiving the EU Next Generation grant. Read more about these members below.
“Ways of Remembering” : Debut Exhibit by Hong Kong Action Archives.
From May 17-25, Taiwan-based Hong Kong Action Archives (HKAA) hosted their debut exhibition at Hoxton Arches, London. The show welcomed 1,300 visitors and received overwhelmingly positive feedback, congratulations to the organizers!
The exhibition featured objects from dissolved Hong Kong civil society groups, exploring how archiving can serve as a form of resistance. HKAA also created an interactive map for sharing and experiencing diverse memories of Hong Kong, available here. A virtual version of the exhibition will be launched in the coming months-stay tuned!
European Museum of the Year Award Received by Manchester Museum.
Congratulations to one of our newest members, Manchester Museum (UK), for receiving the European Museum of the Year Award 2025!
This prestigious annual prize recognizes outstanding achievement in the museum sector. Manchester Museum -part of The University of Manchester- is the first university museum to receive the award. It was honored for its innovative approach in balancing globally significant academic research with deep community engagement and a strong commitment to social responsibility.
This recognition affirms Sites of Conscience globally as trusted community spaces.
Fenix: Rotterdam’s New Migration Museum Opens to the Public!
The museum in the Netherlands welcomed its first visitors this month, inviting them into a powerful space that explores the universal experience of migration. Through stories of love and loss, belonging and identity, Fenix brings past and present journeys to life in deeply human ways. The opening exhibit features internationally acclaimed artists including Shilpa Gupta, Steve McQueen, Rineke Dijkstra, and Kimsooja. Visitors can also explore The Family of Migrants, a vast photo archive, or wander The Suitcase Labyrinth, where personal stories from travellers unfold in immersive soundscapes.
At the heart of the museum is Plein, a dynamic indoor city square co-created with Rotterdam locals, offering programming that reflects the city’s rich cultural mosaic. Join us in celebrating a much needed space in the community!
Pasaje Begoña Renovation
Pasaje Begoña in Spain just received an EU Next Generation grant for the complete renewal of their site. Join us in celebrating this incredible achievement! Known as the “Spanish Stonewall,” Pasaje Begoña was once a vibrant street, symbol of diversity and freedom – until a brutal police raid under the Francoist dictatorship shut it down in 1971.The Association has worked tirelessly to advocate for the recovery of the site and their transformation into a symbol of diversity and inclusion, and these efforts have finally come to fruition. In these turbulent times, when human rights are increasingly under threat around the world, let’s take a moment to celebrate this powerful step forward.
Ancestral Journeys: Reflections on Land and Belonging – Conversation Series at Hrant Dink
On June 20, 23, The Hrant Dink Foundation in Istanbul (Turkey) hosted a conversation series focusing on ancestral journeys and the exploration of Armenian identity through personal storytelling. The series featured Armenian-American speakers Anahid Nazarian and Carolyn Rapkievian, who shared their deeply personal travels to their ancestral villages in regions such as Kayseri and Kharpert. The sessions aimed to honor the memory of genocide survivors by tracing family histories and reflecting on themes of belonging, displacement, and cultural legacy. The event invited broader participation from diasporic Armenians who wish to contribute their own narratives to this ongoing dialogue of remembrance and reconnection.